When to get letter from research PI?

[dextor2003]

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Summer (after M1) research is coming to a close so I was wondering when would be the best time for me to get a letter from my PI. The threads I found similar to this were either really old or were in pre-allo, so I wasn't sure if the same logic would apply.

 

[Psai]

Yeah I'm sure that the process of obtaining letters of recommendation has changed greatly in the past 10 years

 

[dextor2003]

Thanks for being so helpful

 

[DrEnderW]

What do you want the letter for? I was under the impression that letters for residency wouldn't include people you've done research for over the summer and would reflect your 3rd/4th year clinical experiences in your target specialty?

 

[dextor2003]

That's the other thing I was confused about. I kept reading conflicting points on other threads here, but I thought I could ask for one in case I do end up needing to use it for some reason.

 

[operaman]

I would keep in contact with him/her and hit them up for a LOR when you apply for residency. Absolutely a good letter to have and you can always decide not to send it to programs later if you feel you have stronger letters from others.

 

[dextor2003]

Awesome, will do. Thanks so much for the advice!

 

[CodeRedDew]

@dextor2003 Or you could ask for a letter and just have your PI send it to a service like Interfolio

That way, he/she can write you a letter when their memory of you (and the small details of the things you've contributed to his/her lab) hasn't fell into the hands of time and you can keep it until you apply for residency. However, I don't know how the ERAS works and if you can even use a system like interfolio, so I'd look into it before I paid for their service. I mean its not really THAT expensive and its definitely useful. I used it all throughout undergrad so that I wouldn't have to keep bugging my letter writers any time I needed a letter for a program/applying to med school.